A Devon hospital is taking food to its wards because staff are unable to safely leave due to the pressure of workloads and high numbers of patients.

Staff would normally take a break and leave hospital wards to eat in the canteen or grab food from nearby shops and vending machines.

But because of the high number of patients and lower levels of staff they are unable to safely leave the wards, meaning one Devon NHS trust has decided to take food to them.

In an internal memo sent by Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, employees have been told that the hospital would be providing refreshments to the main inpatient wards for the rest of the week because staffing gaps meant some workers were not able to leave their wards safely enough for a break.

But in the letter, hospital bosses said they did not expect staff to miss breaks and that the meals were there to “hopefully help”, reports plymouthherald .

(Image: Getty Images)

Nursing colleagues who were not undertaking direct clinical care or urgent work were also asked to help pick up shifts where possible.

The hospital said it was having to make some “very difficult decisions” during an “unrelenting time”.

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Part of the letter read: “We are having to make some very difficult decisions. We have asked departments and areas to consider cancelling clinics this afternoon [2/1], which will allow greater consultant input into wards.

“We are working collaboratively with our community partners to identify patients who are medically fit to leave the hospital but who need further input, including those who need rehab, to ascertain whether they can be discharged to Mount Gould.

“Please note, we will be providing refreshments to the main inpatient wards for the rest of this week, both for staff working on day shifts and night shifts, as we recognise that due to staffing gaps, staff are not always getting away from their areas safely for breaks. We do not expect you to miss your breaks, the meals will be there to hopefully help.

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“This really is a busy and unrelenting time for many of our areas. Please make sure you are taking care of yourselves and keeping an eye out for colleagues too. If there are areas of concerns, please raise them. Your support, as always, is very much appreciated.”

Derriford is again at Operational Pressures Escalation Level Four (OPEL4) - previously known as black alert - with many areas facing both nursing and medical staffing issues.

Being on OPEL 4 means pressures on the hospital has left it unable to deliver comprehensive care, and there is an increased potential for patient care and safety to be compromised.

One Derriford junior doctor, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Herald: “Lots of staff fear speaking out about how bad it is at the moment, there seems to be a lot of pressure coming from the top to give the impression that the NHS is coping well...it isn't.”

Derriford’s chief executive Ann James said the hospital is experiencing significant pressure and a sustained demand on services.

As a result, some surgeries and outpatient appointments have been cancelled so staff can focus on the influx of sick and acutely unwell patients.

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She said in a statement: “We know from previous years, January is a particularly busy time for us.

"Right now, we are experiencing significant pressure and a sustained demand on our services, with lots of very sick patients coming into hospital and needing to stay with us.

"Many of these patients are experiencing chest pains and respiratory problems but we are also seeing presentations of gastroenteritis and patients with flu-like symptoms.

“With our priority needing to be on the sickest and the most acutely unwell patients in our care, this, regrettably, has meant that we have needed to make some very difficult decisions; including cancelling some surgery and outpatient appointments.

“These decisions are never easy on anyone and I apologise unreservedly for any added anxiety or worry this might be causing. We will do our very best to give you up to date information and a replacement appointment, as soon as we are able to.

“Our staff have been brilliant; working tirelessly and going above and beyond.

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"Staff from right across the organisation have been working additional shifts, staying on later, coming in earlier, etc. doing their very best for our patients.

"These incredible efforts have not gone unnoticed and we are extremely grateful to all of you for your continued support and efforts.”

Yesterday (January 2) the National Emergency Pressures Panel (NEPP) met for the second time to make recommendations that hospitals should delay pre-planned operations and routine outpatient appointments until the end of the month so emergency care could be concentrated on poorly people flocking to A&Es.

On December 18 and 19, Derriford continued to work under the hardest of pressures after being plunged into OPEL 4 status again.

Being on OPEL 4 means pressures on the hospital has left it unable to deliver comprehensive care, and there is an increased potential for patient care and safety to be compromised.